Africa?
You’re speaking my love language.
I’ve done this trip many, many times, and I’m so happy to help you plan the perfect route so you can get the best of both worlds! All while traveling efficiently and making the most of your time.
If you want the best experience, I recommend flying from Cape Town → Johannesburg and doing your safari from there. From Johannesburg, Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the easiest and quickest drives plus it’s a private game reserve – more on this vs national parks below. They have an abundance of incredible wildlife, & it’s a malaria-free reserve. It’s honestly one of my favorite places on earth.
Wait… why not just go on safari near Cape Town?
Great question, I get it all the time!
It really comes down to vegetation + abundance of animals.
The areas surrounding Cape Town are absolutely stunning, but the vegetation there doesn’t naturally support a high density of wildlife. There are a few reserves that have the Big 5, and if it’s your very first safari, you might still feel happy with what you see…
But:
If you can make the quick hop up to Johannesburg → Madikwe.
IT. IS. SO. WORTH. IT.
You’ll have a much better chance of seeing lions, elephants, leopards, and even rarer species like wild dogs. The overall safari experience is just on another level, more animals, more excitement, and more authentic bush vibes.
I’ve visited multiple reserves near Cape Town, and I’m more than happy to share honest details about each… just send me a message if you’re curious!
National Parks vs. Private Game Reserves
National Parks:
-More DIY + flexible, Must stay on roads — no off-roading aka if lions are deep off the road, you’re out of luck
-Sightings can be crowded
-Budget-friendly/ Basic accommodation
Private Game Reserves
– Off-roading allowed for key sightings & Limited vehicles = intimate viewing
-Higher wildlife density + better Big 5 chances
– All-inclusive lodges (meals + drives)
Quick Take:
National Parks = cheaper + DIY
Private Reserves = better sightings + exclusive, guided experience
The perfect 7-day Cape Town → Safari Itinerary
Days 1–3: Cape Town
Day 4: Fly to Johannesburg + Transfer to Madikwe
Days 4, 5–6: Safari at Madikwe Game Reserve
Day 7: Return to Johannesburg + Fly Home
Day 1-3 Cape Town
Top Highlights
- Ride to the top of Table Mountain
- Visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach
- Enjoy the scenic coastal drive along Chapman’s Peak
- Sunset cocktails + dinner in Camps Bay
- Spend a day in winelands
Cape Town is safe, scenic, and easy to explore, a perfect warm-up before heading on safari.
Day 4 — Cape Town → Johannesburg → Madikwe
Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg (about 2 hours). There’s flights almost every hour from CPT to JNB.
You’ll be met by a transfer company for a comfortable 4-5 hour road journey to Madikwe Game Reserve.
Arrive in time for afternoon tea and your first sunset game drive, often the moment you see your first lion, elephant, or leopard. Afterward, enjoy dinner under the stars before settling in for the night.
Message me if you’d like more info on where to stay in Madikwe! I’ve personally been and stayed at a few, and they are magical! I would go back 100 times over.
Days 5–6 — Safari at Madikwe Game Reserve
Your next two full days are spent immersed in the magic of Madikwe.
This is a private game reserve, which means:
-Off-roading for sightings
-Limited vehicles per sighting
-Expert guides and trackers
-No crowds or self-drivers
-It’s the authentic safari experience you see on nat geo/instagram, up close, quiet, and full of unforgettable moments.
What’s Included
- 2× game drives daily (sunrise + sunset)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Tea + coffee + sundowner drinks
- Select lodges include all alcoholic beverages
Between drives, relax at the pool, nap, book a massage, or hang out at the waterhole watching wildlife wander by.
Day 7 — Final Game Drive → Fly Home
Wake up for one last sunrise game drive, these final mornings are often some of the most memorable. On the last game drive we had, we saw about 10 lions, 2 cheetah, and a clan of hyenas! Our other guests wanted to sleep in & missed it…lesson learned, never miss a game drive!
After breakfast, your driver returns you to Johannesburg to connect with your international flight home. I would recommend scheduling your flight for 6:30pm or later, so you have enough time to travel from Madikwe Game Reserve to JNB.
Final Thoughts
If you only have a week in South Africa, this itinerary delivers the perfect balance, a taste of Cape Town’s coastal magic paired with an unforgettable safari. You’ll leave feeling like you experienced the best of both worlds.
If you have more than 7 days, I highly recommend adding:
- 2 nights in the Winelands —
Franschhoek is my personal favorite, with charming boutique hotels, incredible restaurants, and the cutest wine tram that takes you vineyard to vineyard. - 1–2 extra nights on safari —
Trust me… after three nights, you won’t want to leave. The bush has a way of pulling you in, the sunrise drives, the stillness, the wildlife…it just gets better each day! On my last trip to Madikwe, we stayed 3 nights on one end of the game reserve, and 3 nights on the other side, (about 1.5 hr drive in between the safari lodges) so we got to see the different vegetation and animal eco-systems, which was a perfect balance.
Whether you keep it to 7 days or extend your trip, South Africa will absolutely steal your heart.
If you’d like recommendations on where I stayed & recommend, please feel free to email me (travelfarley24@gmail.com) or follow me and DM me on instagram! @travelfarley
Also my fiancé currently lives & works on Madikwe Game Reserve as a Safari fields guide, so he knows all the insider scoops of where to go/where not to go.
Happy traveling! <3
Featured photo taken by the talented Ray Photography 🙂
All other photographs & content property of Travel Farley, LLC
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